18:00 Newcastle

Tuesday 13 February 2024

All16:2416:5817:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap

Off time: 18:02 | Winning time: 1m 26.52s

(10)

Enola Grey¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ethan Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: G Tutty| OR: 74| C

6/1

Course winner. Latest win here in December. 11/2, respectable fourth of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 15 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Likely to find one or two too good.

Form: 211-274

(12)

Elusive Empire¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 72

22/1

Sixth of 7 in minor event at Kempton (7f, 20/1) 13 days ago. That run was probably needed following 6 months off but he's opposable in any case.

Form: 86229-6

(7)

Razzam²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 72

10/1

Fifth of 8 in handicap (13/2) at Southwell (6.1f) 21 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip. Return to 7f will help but minor place money if probably the best he can hope for.

Form: 7736-55

(8)

Leap Day^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 72

9/2

Winner at Southwell in December. 3/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, good second of 8 in handicap at this C&D 19 days ago. Likely to be in the thick of things once again.

Form: 5431-42

(6)

Flylikeaneagle^b,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 71| D

22/1

22/1, sixth of 8 in handicap at this course (10.2f) 11 days ago, going off too hard. Significantly back down in trip and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 9872-06

(11)

Cusack^p⁹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 66| C

5/4

Five-time course winner. Three wins from 16 runs last year. Career best when winning 12-runner handicap at this course (8f, 11/4) 9 days ago, impressively. Obvious claims under a penalty.

Form: 2322-31

(4)

Bora Bora⁴³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: J Butler| OR: 70| BF

33/1

Seventh of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 11/4), doing too much too soon. Off 14 months ahead of this debut for new yard.

Form: 637127/

(3)

Novak²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: William Pyle⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 70| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 18 runs last year. Eleven runs since last win in 2023. 5/2, sixth of 8 in handicap at this C&D 25 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 3392-36

(9)

Alexander James^p,t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 70| C| D

10/1

Course winner. Eleventh of 12 in handicap (9/1) at this C&D 11 days ago, finishing with running left. Needs to raise his game a notch.

Form: 8967-20

(5)

Grey Force One²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Loughnane| T: P A Kirby| OR: 70| CD

28/1

C&D winner. First run since leaving Chris Fairhurst when seventh of 8 in handicap (12/1) at this C&D 25 days ago. Others make more appeal from a win point of view.

Form: 60910-7

(1)

Global Spirit¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 69| D

22/1

Latest win at Pontefract in September. 28/1, respectable fourth of 12 in handicap at this C&D 11 days ago, running on. One to consider.

Form: 31426-4

(2)

Arranmore¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Aiden Brookes⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 69

40/1

Twenty-three runs since last win in 2021. 22/1, eighth of 12 in handicap at this C&D 11 days ago, not much room. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 2085-28

Forecasts

Cusack (5/4), Leap Day (9/2), Enola Grey (6/1), Razzam (10/1), Alexander James (10/1), Novak (12/1), Elusive Empire (22/1), Global Spirit (22/1), Flylikeaneagle (22/1), Grey Force One (28/1), Bora Bora (33/1), Arranmore (40/1)

The consistent CUSACK showed enough speed when scoring back over a mile here last time to suggest that he will not be unduly inconvenienced by the drop to this trip. He will take some stopping under a penalty. Leap Day is also holding his form well and looks set for another bold show after going close in first-time cheekpieces (retained) over C&D recently. Global Spirit and Novak are others to consider.